POLK COUNTY, IA (WOI-DT/CNN) - A former lottery official accused of rigging lotteries in several states pleaded guilty in an Iowa court on Thursday.
Eddie Tipton confessed to writing software that gave him access to winning numbers before they were drawn. "It was more of a trying to see if I could do it scenario, and then it just lasted. It just continued to exist, the opportunity was there and I took advantage of it later. But when I first wrote it, I did not know if I would ever use it,” Tipton said.
The plea was part of a deal with five other states in which Tipton is also accused of tampering with the lottery. Tipton, his brother, and a friend collected more than $2 million in prizes from the rigging. They must repay those winnings.
Iowa is also seeking a 25-year prison sentence for Tipton. He will be sentenced in August.
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